Migration Processes and the Education System: Educational Migration and Children with Migrant Backgr
Migration Processes and the Education System: Educational Migration and Migrant Children at School
- Project “Migration of Students to the CIS" (project supervisor Maria Safonova).
- Project “Migrant Children” (project supervisor Vlada Baranova).
- Preparation for the Review Monograph “Migrant Children at School” (project supervisor Vlada Baranova).
This research aims to determine the main characteristics of student migration flows; and to retrace higher education export strategies and their correlation with these migration flows.
During the first stage, migrant students from the former USSR republics are being interviewed at higher educational establishments in St. Petersburg as well as in dormitories and student hostels. A number of test interviews have been conducted. All of the students involved in the project have done a test interview (all the interviews were analyzed at the project’s seminar). At present, field work is being carried out – the students taking part in the research are conducting interviews and collecting and systematizing statistics from higher educational establishments.
During the first stage, migrant students from the former USSR republics are being interviewed at higher educational establishments in St. Petersburg as well as in dormitories and student hostels. A number of test interviews have been conducted. All of the students involved in the project have done a test interview (all the interviews were analyzed at the project’s seminar). At present, field work is being carried out – the students taking part in the research are conducting interviews and collecting and systematizing statistics from higher educational establishments.
The project deals with research into the integration of migrant children into the secondary education system in St. Petersburg. An analysis of the mechanisms contributing to or, on the contrary, preventing children’s integration at school is among the major purposes of the project. This research should provide us with the answers to questions concerning the extent to which schools provide adaptation and socialization for these children, and how the migration processes influence the education system.
At the initial stage of the project, the sites for qualitative and quantitative research are being chosen. The question is about schools with a high number of migrant children of different social levels. To identify such schools, the teachers attending a course at HSE – St. Petersburg on tolerance and raising the level of professional skills were questioned. The results give us a clear view of the current situation in schools – there are now nearly a third such schools in St. Petersburg. Nevertheless, the purpose of this micro-questioning is not just to determine the number of such schools, but also to discover whether the teachers are ready to cooperate with us. The next research step is the development of an exact program of field research in which the students will take part. At present they are reading up for the work.
At the initial stage of the project, the sites for qualitative and quantitative research are being chosen. The question is about schools with a high number of migrant children of different social levels. To identify such schools, the teachers attending a course at HSE – St. Petersburg on tolerance and raising the level of professional skills were questioned. The results give us a clear view of the current situation in schools – there are now nearly a third such schools in St. Petersburg. Nevertheless, the purpose of this micro-questioning is not just to determine the number of such schools, but also to discover whether the teachers are ready to cooperate with us. The next research step is the development of an exact program of field research in which the students will take part. At present they are reading up for the work.
The book will include not only a review of the numerous American and European research publications on this problem, but also new analysis of this problem in Russia conducted in the Laboratory as well as by other Russian researchers. It is hoped that cooperation with American and European scientists will be established. At present the bibliography has been compiled, some books on foreign research have been ordered; and the preparation of separate parts of the book devoted to the historical view of the problem is in process.
11.09.2010.
